Valve



Feb. 17, 1931. w UNDEMANN 1,792,849

VALVF:

Filed May 27, 1929 (Inn Patented Feb. 17, 1931 UNETEB STATES FREDERICK W. LINDEMANN, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA VALVE Application fi1ed.May 27, 1929. Serial No. 366,266.

This invention relates to valvesand particularly to valves of the self grinding type.

Although there are now on the market valves of the self grinding type, most of these valves act to grind the valve element and the valve seat every time the valve element is seated or lifted from the valve seat. With such valves, the valve seat and valve element are often unnecessarily ground and these parts must be often replaced due to the fact that there is a certain amount of wear on the same during each time that they are ground. Other types of valves have been provided which permit the valve element to be seated on the valve seat without grinding action and which can be operated on occasion to permit the valve element and the valve seat to be ground together, but such last mentioned valves as a rule, necessitate the use of a large number of extra parts which are unnecessary to the normal action of the valve and are clumsy to operate. Also the grinding action in such last mentioned valves is usually accomplished under spring'tension F and an even smooth grinding action is not obtained.

It is, accordingly, the object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved valve embodied in a simple structure comprising few parts and wherein the valve ele ment can be normally seated and withdrawn from the valve seat without grinding action but in which the valve element can be ground against the valve seat when desired by operation only of the means normally used for moving the valve element to and from the valve seat.

To this end, the invention consists in the novel parts and novel combinations of parts, hereinafter defined in the claims and described in the following specification, made in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the various views, and, in which, 7

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a valve illustrating one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1, as indicated by the arrows;

, Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, as indicated by the arrows; Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line of Fig. 1, as indicated by the arrows Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the sleeve with spring attached, shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken through the sleeve shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a view in side elevation illustrating the valve stem shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 8 is a vertical section through avalve illustrating a second embodiment of the invention.

Referring now to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7, a valve casing 9 of standard construction is illustrated having a web 10 therein with a valve seat 11 formed on the web. The casing 9 has an opening outwardly from the valve seat 11, and a bonnet 12 is secured to the casing over this opening by means of a draw nut 13 engaging an outer flange on the bonnet and screw threaded onto the casing, whereby a mechanically and fluid'tight contact is made between the bonnet 12 and the casing 9. A valve stem 14 projects through an opening at the upper end of the bonnet 12 and the lower end of the valve stem has a short cross bar portion 15 formed thereon which detachably fits within a T-slot in a valve element 16. The valve element 16 is illustrated in the drawings as being a disk which is adapted to co-operate with and seat against the valve seat 11. The lower portion of the cross bar 15 is preferably conical in shape as shown in Fig. 1, to permit even pressure to be applied to the valve element 16 after the valve element is engaged with the valve seat 11. Leakage through the bonnet12 around the stem 14 is precluded by means of packing 17 inter- 90 posed between the top of the bonnet 12 and the cap 18 screwed on to the top of the bonnet. A hand wheel 19 is secured to the upper end of the stem 14 above the cap 18.

The stem 14 runs through a sleeve 20 which 95 is mounted in the bonnet 12 and held from movement to and from the valve seat 11 by means of a flange 20a at the lower end of the sleeve interposed in a rabbeted portion of the bonnet 12 between the lower end of the 10c lel bonnet and the casing 9. The sleeve 20 has interior screw threads 20?) formed therein with which screw threads 14a on the Valve stem 14 engage. A circular expanding spring 21 is interposed between the sleeve 20, and the interior walls of the bonnet 12 and this spring is preferably secured over a square lug 22 carried by the sleeve 20 and the spring acts as frictional means to prevent the free rotation of the sleeve 20 relative to the bonnet 12. The rotative movement of the sleeve 20 relative to the bonnet 12 is limited to slightly less than 360 by means of two co-operating lugs 23 and 24, the lug 23 being secured to or formed integral with the bonnet 12 and the lug 24 being secured to or formed integral with the sleeve 20. To permit engagement of the sleeve 20 by the stem 14, to allow the sleeve to be rotated with the stem, two cooperating lugs 25 and 26 are provided, the lug 25 being preferably secured to or formed integral with the lower end of the stem 14 and projecting upwardly from the cross bar portion 15, and the lug 26 being secured to or formed integral with the lower portion of the sleeve 20.

Considering that the sleeve 20 has been rotated in a clockwise direction until the lug 24 strikes the lugs 23, manipulation of the hand wheel 19 will thread the stem 14 upwardly or downwardly in the sleeve 20 to unseat or seat the valve element 16 from or against the valve seat 11. When the hand wheel 19 is rotated in a counter clockwise direction, the valve element 16 will be raised from the seat 11 and the frictional engagement of the spring 21 against the bonnet 12 will prevent rotation of the sleeve 20 until the valve stem 14 has been raised to such a point that the lug 25 strikes the lug 26. Further rotation of the stem 14 in a counter clockwise direction will cause the sleeve 20 to rotate in a counter clockwise direction but during this latter rotation sufficient power must be applied to turn the valve stem 14 to overcome the friction caused by the engagement between the spring 21 and the bonnet 12, and during this latter movement the stem 14 will, of course, not be raised relative to the valve seat 11. Rotation of the .JlOGVQ 20 may be continued in a counter clockwise direction until the lug 24 strikes the lug 23 on the rear side thereof, as viewed in Fig. 1, whereupon further rotation of either the stem 14 or the sleeve 20 in a counter clock- .vise direction will be impossible. When new the hand wheel 19 is rotated in a clockwise direction, the stem 14 will be screw threaded downwardly in the sleeve 20 until the valve element 16 seat-s against the valve seat 11 to "tightly engage with the same. As the hand wheel 19 continuesto be turned after the valve element 16 has seated against the seat 11 additional power must be employed to overcome the friction between the spring 21 and the bonnet 12 to cause the sleeve 20 to be ronot differ as to its working principles.

tated with the stem 14 in a clockwise direction until the lug 24 again engages in the lug 23 at its forward side as viewed in Fig. 1. This last rotation of the stem in a clockwise direction will cause the valve element 16 to grind against the valve seat 11 under pressure, the pressure exerted depending on the frictional resistance offered by the spring 21 to prevent the free rotation of the sleeve 20 with the stem 14. It will be understood that this grinding action will clean the seating surface of the Valve element 16 and the valve seat 11 from foreign matter such as scale, dirt, slime and the like, in order that true engagement may be made between the surfaces of the valve element 16 and the valve seat 11. It will be further understood that the pressure exerted between the valve element 16 and the valve seat 11 during the grinding action of these members, may be varied by using springs 21 or other frictional means adapted to exert greater or less braking power between the bonnet 12 and the sleeve 20. As it is possible to move the sleeve 20 relative to the bonnet 12 through almost 360, a smooth grinding action over all contacting surfaces of the valve element 16 and the valve seat 11 can be accomplished.

In ordinary use, it is not necessary to grind the valve element and the valve seat every time that the valve element is seated against the valve seat and, accordingly, when the valve stem 14 is retracted from the sleeve 20, it will not be necessary to'continue to rotate the hand wheel 19 in a counter clockwise direction after it is felt that the lug 25 engages the lug 26. It will be seen, however, that the valve may be ground whenever desired.

In Fig. 8, a slightly different embodiment of the invention is disclosed, which although differing slightly in construction from the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7, does In F S, the structure is identical with that shown in the other views with the exception of the valve stem, the bonnet, the sleeve and the friction spring. The bonnet 27 illustrated in Fig. 8 may be applied to the valve casing in the same manner as the bonnet 12, by means of the draw nut 13, but the bonnet 27 unlike the bonnet 12, is provided with interior screw threads 27a with which exterior screw threads 2860 on a sleeve 28 engage. A stem 29 runs downwardly through the bonnet 27 and the sleeve 28, and collars 30 are secured to the stem 29 above and below the sleeve 26 respectively, to prevent movement of the sleeve 26 relative to the stem 29 to and from the valve seat 11. A circular expanding spring 31 mounted on a lug 32 carried by the stem 29 is disposed between the two collars 30 to bear against the sleeve 28 and prevent free relative rotation between the sleeve and stem. A pair of co-operating lugs 33 and 34 mounted on the upper collar 30 and the sleeve 28 respectively, limit the possible relative rotation between the stem 29 and the sleeve 28.

' The stem 29 carries a cross bar 35 at its inner end which like the cross bar 15 fits within a T-groove in the valve element 16.

Considering that the stem 29 is positioned relative to the sleeve 28, so that the lug 33 engages the rear side of the lug 34, as viewed in Fig. 8, it will be seen that the stem 29 and sleeve 28 can be freely moved upwardly and downwardly in the screw threads 22% of the bonnet 27, to cause the valve element 16 to seat against the valve seat 11 or to be retracted from the seat 11 without causing the valve element and seat to grind against each other. The friction of the spring 31 against the sleeve 28 will act to cause the sleeve 28 to move with the stem 29 to and from the valve seat until the collar 30,. when the stem is in retracted position, strikes the top of the bonnet 27. If it is desired to grind the valve the next time the valve element 16 is to be engaged with the seat 11, the stem 29 can be further rotated in a counter clockwise direction after the upper collar 30 strikes the top of the bonnet 27 but this rotation must take place against the frictional action of the spring 31 which bears against the sleeve 28, inasmuch as the stem 29 must rotate relative to the sleeve 28 during this action. The lugs 33 and-34 will act to limit the possible relative rotation between the stem 29 and the sleeve 28 when the stem 29 has been turned to such a position that the log 33 engages the lug 84 on the forward side thereof, as viewed in Fig. 8. hen now the stem 29 is rotated in a clockwise direction, the sleeve 28 and stem 29 will be moved downwardly in the screw threads 27a of bonnet 27 until the valve element 16 firmly engages the valve seat 11, whereupon further rotation of the stem 29 in a clockwise direction can be accomplished by exertingsufiicient pressure to overcome the friction of the spring 31 against the sleeve 28. This last rotative movement of the stem 29 will cause the stem to rotate relative to the sleeve 28 thereby grinding the valve element 16 on the valve seat 11 until the lug 33 is carried in a clockwise direction from engagement with the forward side of the lug 8 1 as viewed in Fig. 8, to engagement with the rear side of the lug 34, as viewed in Fig. 8.

Although but two embodiments of the present invention are illustrated, it wil be understood that the invention can be embodied in a large number of different structures. It will further be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts without departing from the scope of the present invention. The parts are few and the construction is simple. The valve has been amply demonstrated in actual practice and has been found to be very successful for the purposes intended.

What is claimed is:

1. A valve comprising a valve element and a valve seat, a member fixed relative to said valve seat, two members rotatable relative to said fined member and to each other, one of said second mentioned members carrying said valve element, one of said second mentioned members being freely movable to and from said valve seat by screw threaded engagement with one of the other members,

frictional means acting between and pre-- venting free relative rotation between the two members not having screw threaded engagement with each other, means limiting the extent of possible relative rotation between said last two mentioned members. means preventing relative movement of said last two mentioned members in directions to and from said valve seat and an operating handle on said member carrying said valve element.

2. A valve comprising a valve element and a valve seat, a member situated outwardly from said valve seat and fixed relative thereto, two members rotatably mounted in said fixed member and rotatable relative to each other, one of said second mentioned members carrying said valve element, one of said second mentioned members being freely movable to and from said valve seat by screw threaded engagement with one of the other members, frictional means acting between and preventing free relative rotation between the two members not having screw threaded engagement with each other, means limiting the extent of the possible relative rotation between said last two mentioned members, means preventing relative movement of said'last two mentioned members in directions to and from said valve seat, and an operating handle on said member carrying' said valve element.

3. A valve comprising a valve element and a valve seat, a bonnet member fixed relative to said valve seat, a stem member running through said bonnet member and carrying said valve element at its inner end, a sleeve member mounted in said bonnet member and through which said stem member extends, one of said two last mentioned members having screw threaded engagen'ient with one of the other members to permit its free movement to and from said valve seat, frictional means acting between and preventing free relative rotation between the two members not having screw threaded engagement with each other, means limiting the extent of relative rotation between said two members not having screw threaded engagement, means preventing relative movement of said two mentioned members not having screw threaded engagement in directions to and from the valve seat, and operating means on said stem member.

4. A valve comprising a valve element and a valve seat, a bonnet member outwardly disposed from said valve seat and fixed relative thereto, a stem member running through said bonnet member and carrying said valve element at its inner end, a sleeve member disposed in said bonnet member and through which said stem member extends, one of said last two mentioned members having screw threaded engagement with one of the other members to permit its free movement to and from said valve seat, resilient frictional means acting between said two members not having screw threaded engagement with each other, means limiting the extent of relative rotation between said two members not having screw threaded engagement, means preventing relative moven'ient of said two members not having screw threaded engagement in directions to and from said valve seat and operating means secured to the outer end of said stem member.

5. A valve comprising a casing having a valve seat therein, a valve element adapted to cooperate with said valve seat, a bonnet secured to said casing outwardly from said valve seat, a stem mounted in said bonnet for rotation relative thereto and carryingsaid valve element at its inner end, means permitting free screw threaded movement of said stem in an axial direction within certain limits to and from said valve seat, frictional means oiiering resistance to other than screw threaded axial movement of said stem and means limiting the possible rotation of said stem after said limits have been reached.

6. A valve comprising a casing having a valve seat therein, a valve element adapted to cooperate with said valve seat, a bonnet secured to said casing outwardly from said valve seat, a stem running through said bonnet and carrying said valve element at its inner end, means permitting free screw threaded movement of said stem in an axial direction to and from said valve seat, the engagement of said valve element with said valve seat limiting said axial movement of the said stem towards said valve seat, means limiting the axial movement of said stem away from said valve seat, frictional means offering resistance to other than screw threaded axial movement of said stem and means limiting the possible rotation of said stem after further screw threaded axial movement of said stem is prevented in either direction.

7. A valve comprising a casing having a valve seat therein, a valve element adapted to cooperate with said valve seat, a bonnet member secured to said casing outwardly from said valve seat, a stem member running through said bonnet member and carrying said valve element at its inner end, a sleeve threaded axial movement of said stem memher to and from said valve seat, the engagement of said valve element with said seat limiting the axial screw threaded movement of said stem member towards said valve seat, means limiting the axial screw threaded movement of said stem member from said valve seat, frictional means acting between said sleeve member and the member not having screw threaded engagement with said sleeve member and offering resistance to other than axial screw threaded movement of said stem member and means limiting the possible rotation of said stem member, after said stem member has reached the limits-of its axial screw threaded movement.

8. A valve comprising a valve seat, a valve element, a member fixed relative to said valve seat, two members rotatable relative to said fixed member and to each other, one of said second mentioned members being freely movable to and from said valve seat by screw threaded engagement with one of the other members, frictional means acting between and preventing free relative rotation between the two members not having screw threaded engagement with each other, cooperating lugs on said last two mentioned members limiting the extent of possible relative rotation between the same, means preventing relative movement of said last two mentioned members in directions to and from said valve seat and means for turning said member carrying said valve element.

9. A valve comprising a casing having a valve seat therein, a bonnet secured to said casing outwardly from said valve seat, a valve element adapted to co-operate with said valve seat, a stem running through said bonnet and carrying said valve element at its inner end, an operating member secured to said stem outwardly from said bonnet, a sleeve mounted in said bonnet for rotation relative thereto and through which said stem extends, said stem having screw threaded engagement with said sleeve, said sleeve being incapable of movement to and from said valve seat, frictional means acting between said sleeve and said bonnet and means limiting the possible relative rotation between said sleeve and said bonnet.

10. The structure defined in claim 9, said frictional means comprising a circular expanding spring.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

FREDERICK VV LINDEMANN. 

